Lose Your Heart To Ostuni
There’s something about Ostuni – the tint of white that you see on its houses and buildings takes you into a surreal world. The murmur of shops and vehicles has no power over the era that breathes quietly, yet profoundly in the cobbled lanes and behind the ancient walls.
Ostuni was one town I was particular about visiting while I was planning my trip to Italy. I knew I was going to adore it for its dreamlike quality. So, when I finally set foot in Ostuni, I was enthralled by it. I was so much in awe of everything around me that it was hard for me to decide where to settle my gaze. I just snapped photos left, right and centre. I didn’t want to overlook even a corner of this beautiful “white town” of Puglia. Ostuni is easily my favourite of all the towns that I visited in Puglia.
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Here’s what I loved about Ostuni –
The “white” tint
As I mentioned earlier, the white tint of Ostuni is almost like a dream. It’s gorgeous.
An excerpt from Wikipedia:
The so-called “Old Town” is Ostuni’s citadel built on top of a hill and still fortified by the ancient walls. Ostuni is regarded as an architectural jewel, and is commonly referred to as “the White Town” (“La Città Bianca”, in Italian) for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. Monuments in their own right, the town’s largest buildings are the Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace, together with a number of palazzi of local aristocratic families: Aurisicchio, Ayroldi, Bisantizzi, Falghieri, Ghionda, Giovine, Jurleo, Marseglia, Moro, Palmieri, Petrarolo, Siccoda, Urselli and Zaccaria.
In the surrounding countryside there are typical Pugliese “masserie”, fortified large estate-farms, one of which, San Domenico, was once held by the Knights of Malta.
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The mysterious narrow lanes and staircases
Yes, the narrow lanes and staircases of Ostuni have certain mystery to them. It feels like a maze, which envelops you in its fathomless magic.
The vintage charms
I absolutely loved the little vintage charms of Ostuni – pretty balconies, hanging flower pots, quaint doors, windows and the like.
The cute cafes and shops
The cafes, restaurants, pizzerias, gelaterias and pasticcerias of Ostuni add a lot of elegance to the whole atmosphere.
The cobbled streets
Ostuni has cobbled streets everywhere. So, it’s almost like stepping into the Stone Age. The nooks and crannies of Ostuni ooze the old era.
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The historic aura
Well, it goes without saying that Ostuni is a historic city. It has quite a few attractions that are of interest to history lovers – the cathedral of Ostuni, the central piazza and Chiesa di San Francesco.
Ideal for slow saunters
Ostuni inspires you to saunter slowly and soak up its quiet life. The siesta hours (1 to 4pm) give you a chance to sneak out of your “buzzing” life and immerse into the bliss of idleness.
Has Ostuni captivated you?
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